A Pennsylvania principal unhappy with the way students were getting down at dances has banned "grinding" from the high school events.
Mt. Lebanon High School principal Brian McFeeley banned grinding, saying students are binge drinking prior to the events and feeling the full effects once they hit the dance floor, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Grinding is described by the Associated Press as "a sexually suggestive form of dancing in which couples dance front-to-back while their hips rub against one another -- generally with the male standing behind the female."
McFeeley announced the grinding ban via a memo sent to parents. The letter was obtained by Gawker after an anonymous student contacted the website to complain. The 16-year-old said that students not under the influence just want to "let off a little steam and let out some pent-up sexual frustration at dances are now contending with the prudent adults."
The message sent by McFeeley states that school officials have tried to curb "inappropriate behavior" but that students continue to grind. This "sexually suggestive" form of dance has even led to "very suggestive sexual motions by both partners."
Some students are upset about the ban for other reasons.
"I was mad because I think it's stupid that they're focusing on how we dance rather than on the drug and alcohol issues," junior Paulee Manich told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, referencing the underage drinking problems the school has dealt with recently. Six students were cited at the homecoming dance with blood alcohol levels ranging from 0.065 to 0.27, according to the newspaper.
However, as the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review notes, McFeeley's decision wasn't out of the blue. The newspaper highlights the following:
“This is not a quick, knee-jerk response based on the Homecoming dance,” McFeeley said. “This is a decision made based on many observations, by myself and by other staff... This has been a very deliberate process.”
The Huffington Post reached out McFeeley and Mt. Lebanon High School for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
Schools across the nation have made headlines recently for cracking down on students' dress and behavior.
A Florida school came under fire this week for banning dresses and tuxes from the annual homecoming dance due to concerns over suggestive dancing and dressing, according to RTV6.
[h/t Gawker for the find.]